Reported by Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Several Youth Congress workers were injured after police used water cannons and resorted to a baton charge to disperse protesters attempting to march towards the Chief Minister’s official residence in Agartala on Monday, party leaders said.
The protest, organised by the Youth Congress, sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and raised issues including corruption, price rise, and unemployment.
Hundreds of Youth Congress workers and supporters took part in the rally, which began in the city in the morning.
Police stopped the procession near IGM Hospital by erecting barricades. However, protesters allegedly crossed the barricades and attempted to move towards the Chief Minister’s official residence.
As tensions escalated, police first used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Protesters, however, continued to advance towards the high-security zone surrounding the Chief Minister’s residence, following which security personnel, including police and CRPF personnel, took additional measures to prevent entry into the protected area.
Youth Congress leaders alleged that police used water cannons a second time and also carried out a baton charge on the demonstrators.
“Several protesters sustained injuries during the incident,” Tripura Pradesh Youth Congress president Neel Kamal Saha said.
Eyewitnesses claimed that some protesters suffered injuries to different parts of their bodies and a few were seen bleeding at the site. The injured were provided preliminary medical assistance.
Condemning the police action, Youth Congress leaders alleged that the administration used excessive force to suppress a democratic protest. They maintained that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right.
The incident triggered political reactions, with sections of the opposition questioning the administration’s handling of the protest and alleging high-handedness against demonstrators.
Police, however, said the measures were taken to ensure the security of the Chief Minister’s residence and maintain law and order in the city.
They added that necessary steps were taken to prevent unauthorised entry into the protected security zone.
The situation was later brought under control, and Youth Congress workers were detained. More than 50 Youth Congress activists were detained, said sources in the police department.
“Some of our workers sustained severe injuries. Two of them suffered head injuries due to an alleged lathi charge,” said Youth Congress president Neel Kamal Saha.